Basic Residential Plan Review Requirements

Basic Residential Plan Review Requirements Dear Applicant: This is to advise that our review will be based on compliance with the requirements of the Louisiana State Uniform Construction code in accordance with ACT 12 of the 2005 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature. This review is performed at the request of, and on behalf of the jurisdiction in which this proposed project is located. Code References: IRC NEC Plumbing SSTD 10-99 WFCM 2009 International Residential Code 2008 National Electric Code 2000 Louisiana State Plumbing Code 1999 Guidelines for Hurricane Resistant Residential Construction 2001 Wood Frame Construction Manual NOTE: The following items described below are not all inclusive to everything that is check during plan review or required per building code. These items are the most common general requirements. Plans should include information to determine compliance with following items: BASIC WIND SPEED: Residence must be designed to withstand wind loads for area being constructed. (High wind provisions detailing anchoring, strapping, nail patterns for roof and shear-wall sheathing etc..) Buildings and structures located in a 120 mph or greater wind zone shall comply with article R301.2.1.2 of the 2009 International Residential Code regarding wind borne debris, which states: Wood structural panels (plywood) with a minimum thickness of 7/16 inch and a maximum span of 8 feet shall be permitted for opening protection in lieu of large missile tested impact resistant windows. Panels shall be precut to cover the glazed openings with attachment hardware provided. Attachments shall be provided in accordance with Table R301.2.1.2. Submit evidence of compliance Page 1 of 11

FLOOD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION: Buildings and structures constructed in flood hazard areas (including A or V Zones as established in Table R301.2 (1) shall be designed in accordance with IRC 322. Mechanical and Electrical systems shall be elevated in accordance with IRC 322.1.6. Enclosed areas below design flood elevation shall comply with IRC 322.2.2. Walls below deign flood elevation shall comply with IRC 322.3.4. LOCATION ON LOT: All walls less than 5-0 from adjacent property lines must be of not less than 1 hour fire-resistive construction as per IRC 302.1. Dwelling units in two family dwellings shall be separated from each other by wall and/or floor assemblies having not less than 1 hour fire resistant rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E119. Fire resistance rated floor ceiling and wall assemblies shall extend to the underside of the roof sheathing as per article R317.1 of the 2006 IRC. (The 2009 IRC was adopted by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council with the exception of sprinkler systems and maintains the inclusion of IRC 2006 for dwelling unit and Town house separation provisions per IRC 2006.) Each townhouse shall be considered a separate building and shall be separated by fire resistance rated wall assemblies meeting the requirements of Section R302, 2006 IRC for exterior walls. (The 2009 IRC was adopted by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council with the exception of sprinkler systems and maintains the inclusion of IRC 2006 for dwelling unit and Town house separation provisions per IRC 2006.) Exception: A common 2 hour fire resistance rated wall is permitted for townhouses if such walls do not contain plumbing or mechanical equipment, ducts or vents in the cavity of the common wall. Electrical installations shall be installed in accordance with Chapters 33 through 42. Penetrations of electrical outlet boxes shall be in accordance with Section R317.3. The common wall for townhouses shall be continuous from the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing, deck or slab and shall extend the full length of the common wall including walls extending through and separating attached accessory structures as per article R317.2.1 of the 2006 IRC. Penetrations of wall or floor/ceiling Page 2 of 11

assemblies required to be fire resistance rated in accordance with Section 317.3.1.1 or R317.3.1.2. of the 2006 IRC. GLAZING: Glazing must comply with IRC 308 concerning: Identification Impact Loads Hazardous location Windows shall meet minimum design criteria per IRC 301.2.1 and 301.2.1.2. (See last page) ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Glazing shall meet the requirements of climate zone 2 on Table N1102.1 of the 2009 IRC as follows: Fenestration U-Factor 0.75 or less SHGC- 0.40 or less Insulation requirements: Ceilings: R-30 Walls: R-13 (2x4) R-19 (2x6) Floors: R-13 GARAGES AND CARPORTS: Openings between the garage and residence shall be equipped with solid wood doors not less than 1 3/8 inches in thickness, solid or honeycomb core steel doors not less than 1 3/8 inches thick, or 20 minute fire rated doors as per IRC 302.5.1. The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic area by not less than ½ inch gypsum board applied to the garage side. Garages beneath habitable rooms shall be separated from all habitable rooms above by not less than 5/8 inch Type X gypsum board or equivalent. Where the separation is a floor ceiling assembly, the structure supporting the separation shall also be protected by not less than ½ inch gypsum board or equivalent as per IRC 302.6. EGRESS: Page 3 of 11

Landings are required at exterior doors as per IRC 311.3. Bedroom windows must comply with the emergency egress provisions of IRC 310.1. The maximum stair riser height shall be 7 ¾ inches as IRC 311.7.4.1. The minimum stair tread depth shall be 10 inches as per IRC 311.7.4.1. There shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway. A landing is required at the top of an interior flight of stairs as per IRC 311.5.4. The minimum headroom in all parts of the stairway shall not be less than 6 feet 8 inches measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the tread nosing or from the floor surface of the landing or platform per IRC 311.7.2. A flight of stairs shall not have a vertical rise greater than 12 feet between floor levels or landings as per IRC 311.7.5. The width of each landing shall not be less than the stairway served. Every landing shall have a minimum dimension of 36 inches measured in the direction of travel as per Section R311.7.5. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of stair treads or flight with four or more risers as per IRC 311.7.7. Handrail height shall be not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches as per IRC 311.7.7.1. Spiral stairways as per IRC 311.7.9.1 are permitted, provided the minimum width shall be 26 inches with each tread having a 7 ½ inches minimum tread depth at 12 inches from the narrower edge. All treads shall be identical, and the rise shall be no more than 9 1/2 inches. A minimum headroom of 6 feet 6 inches shall be provided. Porches, balconies or raised floor surfaces located more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below shall have guards not less than 36 inches in height. Open sides of stairs with a total rise of more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below shall have guards not less than 34 inches in height measured vertically from the nosing of the treads as per IRC 312.1. SMOKE ALARMS: Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations per IRC 314: In each sleeping room. Page 4 of 11

Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwelling or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level. When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. All alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72. EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS (Bedroom Windows): R310.1 EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE REQUIRED. Basements, habitable attics and every sleeping room shall have at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency egress and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room. They shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches above the floor. Where a door opening having a threshold below the adjacent ground elevation serves as an emergency escape and rescue opening and is provided with a bulkhead enclosure, the bulkhead enclosure shall comply with IRC 310.3. The net clear opening dimensions required by this section shall be obtained by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue openings with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground elevation shall be provided with a window well in accordance with IRC 310.2. R310.1.1 MINIMUM OPENING AREA. All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. Exception: Grade floor openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet. R310.1.2 MINIMUM OPENING HEIGHT. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches. R310.1.3 MINIMUM OPENING WIDTH. The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches. Page 5 of 11

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: (Chapter 11) Residence must comply with the following insulation requirements as per IRC Table N1102.1: Heating and air conditioning equipment performance must comply with IRC N1103. Provide evidence of compliance on plans and submit Manual J (Load calculations for A/C system per IMC 312.1). Water heating appliance and equipment performance shall be in accordance with IRC 1103.4. FOUNDATION: (Chapter 4) All References to this section are per IRC 301.2.1.1, Section 303 of the Southern Building Code of Congress International 1999 Standard for Hurricane Resistant Residential Construction (SSTD 10-99)AND ICC 600. Indicate concrete slab s compressive strength and verify compliance. Footing size must comply with the minimum width and depth. Minimum footing rebar size must be Number 5. All exterior footings shall be placed at least 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. Foundation anchor bolt minimum spacing Under floor space must comply with Sections R408.1 through R408.7 concerning the following: Ventilation Ventilation openings Access Removal of debris Flood resistance Concrete slab on ground shall be a minimum of 3.5 inches per SSTD10-99 A 6 mil polyethylene or approved vapor retarder is required as per SSTD 10-99 Page 6 of 11

FLOORS: (Chapter 5) Floor joists shall not exceed the allowable spans as per IRC Table R502.3.1 (1). Truss design drawings shall comply with IRC 502.11.4. A minimum Draft stopping of 1000 square feet of area when there is usable space both above and below the concealed space of a floor/ceiling assembly per IRC 502.12. Pressure preservative treated wood basement floors shall comply with IRC R504.1. Under floor space must meet the provisions of IRC 408 relative to ventilation, openings, access, and flood resistance Specify wood species and grade as per section R502. COLUMNS: (Chapter 4) Columns at porch shall meet the structural, anchorage, and decay provisions of IRC 407. WALLS: (Chapter 6) Wall framing must comply with the identification marking as per IRC 602.1. CEILINGS: (Chapter 5 and 8) Ceiling joists shall not exceed the allowable spans per IRC Table 802.4 (1). FIRE WALLS: All walls less than 5-0 from adjacent property lines must be of not less than 1 hour fire resistive construction as per section R302.1 of the 2006 IRC. Page 7 of 11

Dwelling units in two family dwellings shall be separated from each other by wall and/or floor assemblies having not less than 1 hour fire resistant rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E119. Fire resistance rated floor ceiling and wall assemblies shall extend to the underside of the roof sheathing as per article R317.1 of the 2006 IRC. (The 2009 IRC was adopted by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council with the exception of sprinkler systems and maintains the inclusion of IRC 2006 for dwelling unit and Town house separation provisions per IRC 2006.) Each townhouse shall be considered a separate building and shall be separated by fire resistance rated wall assemblies meeting the requirements of Section R302, 2006 IRC for exterior walls. Exception: A common 2 hour fire resistance rated wall is permitted for townhouses if such walls do not contain plumbing or mechanical equipment, ducts or vents in the cavity of the common wall. Electrical installations shall be installed in accordance with Chapters 33 through 42. Penetrations of electrical outlet boxes shall be in accordance with Section R317.3. The common wall for townhouses shall be continuous from the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing, deck or slab and shall extend the full length of the common wall including walls extending through and separating attached accessory structures as per article R317.2.1 of the 2006 IRC. Penetrations of wall or floor/ceiling assemblies required to be fire resistance rated in accordance with Section 317.3.1.1 or R317.3.1.2. of the 2006 IRC. Walls shall meet all high wind provisions in accordance with 2001 Wood Frame Construction Manual and/or Institute for Business & Home Safety (1999 Guidelines for Hurricane resistant Residential Construction). Included should be details indicating the following items: stud sizes, spacing, anchoring, strapping, and sheathing nailing patterns. ROOF: (Chapter 8 and 9) Roofs shall meet all high wind provisions in accordance with 2001 Wood Frame Construction Manual and/or Institute for Business & Home Safety (1999 Guidelines for Hurricane resistant Residential Construction). Included should be details indicating the following items: rafter sizes, spacing, strapping, and sheathing nailing patterns. CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES: (Chapter 10) Page 8 of 11

Factory built fireplaces shall be listed and tested in accordance with UL 127 as per IRC 1004.1. Hearth extensions shall comply with the provisions of IRC 1001.9. Combustible material clearance shall meet the requirements of IRC 1003.18. LIGHT, VENTILATION AND HEATING: Bathroom must comply with the artificial light provisions of article R303.3. R303.3 BATHROOMS. Bathrooms, water closet compartments and other similar rooms shall be provided with aggregate glazing area in windows of not less than 3 square feet, one half of which must be openable. Exception: The glazed areas shall not be required where artificial light and a mechanical ventilation system are provided. The mechanical ventilation rates shall be 50 c.f.m. for intermittent ventilation of 20 cfm for continuous ventilation. Ventilation air from the space shall be exhausted directly to the outside. CEILING HEIGHT: All rooms must have a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet as per section R305.1. GLAZING IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS: The following shall be considered specific hazardous locations for the purposes of glazing and shall be provided with safety glazing in accordance with R308.1 and 308.4: Glazing in swinging doors except jalousies. Glazing in fixed and sliding panels of sliding door assemblies and panels in sliding and bi fold closet door assemblies. Glazing in storm doors. Glazing in all unframed swinging doors. Glazing in doors and enclosures for hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs and showers. Glazing in any part of a building wall enclosing these compartments where the bottom Page 9 of 11

exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches measured vertically above any standing or walking surface. Glazing, in an individual fixed or operable panel adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge is within a 24-in arc of the door in the closed position and whose bottom edge is less than 60 inches above the floor or walking surface. Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel, other than those locations described in the previous two items above, that meet all of the following conditions: Exposed area of an individual pane larger than 9 square feet. Bottom edge less than 18 inches above the floor. Top edge more than 36 inches above the floor. One or more walking surfaces within 36 inches horizontally of the glazing. All glazing in railings regardless of an area or height above a walking surface. Included are structural baluster panels and nonstructural in-fill panels. Glazing in walls and fences enclosing indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs and spas where the bottom edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches above a walking surface and within 60 inches horizontally of the water s edge. This shall apply to single glazing and all panes in multiple glazing. Glazing adjacent to stairways, landings and ramps within 36 inches horizontally of a walking surface when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches above the plane of the adjacent walking surface. Glazing adjacent to stairways within 60 inches horizontally of the bottom tread of a stairway in any direction when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches above the nose of the tread. The following chart is provided to clarify the DP rating requirements for windows based on design wind speed of area being installed per the International Residential Code and the Guidelines for Hurricane Resistant Residential Construction. Page 10 of 11

DP Rating For Design Wind Speeds (based on 2006 IRC - Table R301.2(2) & 2005 Hurricane Guide - Table 602A) Center of Wall Window opening area (sf) 110mph 120mph 130mph 140mph 150mph 170mph 10 DP-25 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-45 DP-60 20 DP-25 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-45 DP-55 50 DP-25 DP-30 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-55 100 DP-25 DP-25 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-50 500 DP-20 DP-25 DP-30 DP-30 DP-35 DP-45 Corner of wall (windows located within 4 feet of corner) Window opening area (sf) 110mph 120mph 130mph 140mph 150mph 170mph 10 DP-30 DP-35 DP-45 DP-50 DP-55 DP-70 20 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-45 DP-55 DP-65 50 DP-25 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-50 DP-60 100 DP-25 DP-30 DP-35 DP-40 DP-45 DP-55 500 DP-20 DP-25 DP-30 DP-30 DP-35 DP-45 NOTE: 7/16 inch plywood is only an exception for replacing the requirement for Large Missile tested glazing. It DOES NOT substitute the DP rating requirement. R301.2.1.2 Windows shall meet the requirements of climate zone 2 on Table N1102.1 of the IRC as follows: Fenestration (U-Factor: 0.75 or less) Glazed Fenestration (SHGC: 0.40 or less) Michael Wich Building Official Page 11 of 11